THERE HAS BEEN no drop off in the number of Irish tourists seeking out flights to the Greek island of Kos.
Far from it, in fact.
The head of the Irish Travel Agents Association says charter services to the popular sun spot have been exceptionally busy in the last few weeks.
The island has been in the spotlight recently as the Mediterranean and Aegean migrant crisis continues – and the cafés lining the beach-front of the holiday island have become an unlikely first port of call for thousands of refugees from Syria, Afghanistan and elsewhere.
“It has been exceptionally busy. I know the bad weather has been a factor and it’s been a big factor for bookings over the last number of weeks,” ITAA president Martin Skelly said.
At this time of year there would normally be “two or three seats” available on charter flights to the Greek islands, he said.
However:
Over the last two weeks, we were commenting in the office that there’s been nothing available.
Dozens of journalists have been sent to the island to cover the crisis in recent weeks, and according to this report from NPR, many residents, while feeling huge sympathy for their plight, worry that the influx of migrants could destroy the tourism industry which provides most of their income.
AFP reports that the seafront cafés have been struggling to provide basic hospitality and services like toilets, running water, electricity and food – and that they’ve been trying to fill in, following a dearth of government assistance for the refugees.
Tourists, in recent weeks, have been abandoning the beach-front area – choosing to dine and spend their nights out in downtown Kos instead.
Asked whether news reports on the migrant crisis were having an impact on peoples’ choice of destination, Skelly said it was “quite possible if everywhere else was available that people might have a preference and say ‘I’d rather not go there’.”
But in general most of the traditional holiday markets have been quite busy since this crisis has escalated, over the last few weeks.
It’s an issue people are remarking on when they book their holiday, Skelly said.
“When people come in to book their holidays, we’ve found – especially since the attacks in Tunisia – they’re thinking a little bit about where they’re going.
“Their personal safety is a consideration and it’s a factor.”
Skelly, who also heads up Meath travel agents Navan Travel, said people could ”understand the impact of how specific events can be reported in one area and might not be felt at all in another area”.
“People ask ‘what’s available?’. They look at their options, and I think they’re making their decisions primarily on value for money.”
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